- Prescription for Death
Prescription for Death was the first episode on the long-running
crime drama television series "Law & Order ". It was aired on September 13, 1990. Although it was the first episode of the series to air, it was not originally intended to be the pilot.Everybody's Favorite Bagman , which aired on October 30, 1990, was originally written and shot as the pilot.Steven Hill appears in this episode as D.A. Adam Schiff, but was not actually part of the original cast and did not join the series until after the pilot. [http://www.tv.com/law-and-order/prescription-for-death/episode/9460/trivia.html#notes]Cast
Police
Dann Florek Capt. Don CragenGeorge Dzundza Sgt. Max GreeveyChris Noth Det. Mike LoganDistrict Attorney's Office
Steven Hill Adam SchiffMichael Moriarty Ben Stone Richard Brooks Paul Robinette Plot Overview
Suzanne Morton dies after a visit to a hospital emergency room during a hectic night shift. Her father, a former medic in Vietnam, accuses the hospital of negligence and demands a police investigation. Logan and Greevey question a doctor who made adjustments to her chart, but are soon led to the respected Dr. Edward Auster, who they feel may have been drunk on duty. The other residents are reluctant to speak for fear their jobs may be in jeopardy, and Stone is faced with the awkward job of prosecuting a revered physician.
Quotes
Dr. Edward Auster: You solve every case you work on?
Mike Logan: We can tell a felony from a traffic ticket.
Dr. Edward Auster: Look, a patient walks in with aheadache . She could have asubarachnoid hemorrhage , a berry aneurysm, a retro-orbital tumor — or does she just have a headache? Do you give her an aspirin? Or do you saw open her skull?
Max Greevey: You make this speech at funerals?Ben Stone: We got what we needed from Dr. Simonson.
Dr. Edward Auster: An intern, Mr. Stone. Are you planning on asking the cleaning lady to testify, too? About the time I threw the tissue into the wastepaper basket and missed?Dr. Edward Auster: When you practice medicine, Mr. Stone, sometimes the patient dies.
Ben Stone: And when you're a lawyer, Dr. Auster, some of the people you prosecute are convicted.
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